Gareth Davies Shield

The Gareth Davies Shield commemorates the late Gareth Davies, father of PM (Dewi) Davies. Despite serious ill-health, Gareth Davies was an assiduous supporter of COBS and usually to be seen on the boundary. The Shield is awarded annually for services to CCB and especially COBS cricket.


Awards to date:

1994: Tony Owens
Tony was a member of the XL Club which has played an annual fixture against the School for many years. He first visited CCB to play for the XL Club in the early 1980s after he had retired to the Brecon area. He was so delighted with what he found that he volunteered his services to CWK in any required capacity. He became a regular spectator, camp follower, umpire and scorer and was a member as scorer/2nd umpire of the first four COBS French Tour parties, last travelling in 1996 at the remarkable age of 82. Having spent over 60 years playing cricket he spent the last 15 years of his life putting something back into the game by supporting and enabling others to play. A shining example to us all, he was rightly the recipient of the first award of the Shield.

1995: Malcolm Cousins
Not quite as old as Tony, Malcolm was recipient of the second award. As a master and cricket coach at CCB for many years he was responsible for encouraging many to play for COBS. He was also a founder player for COBS in that first, 1977, season. By the time of the award, he had played 44 matches, 26 of them as captain, and taken over 40 wickets. When not playing, he frequently umpired or scored. Another engine of the Club, committed to enabling others to play cricket as well as participating himself.

1996: Tim Davenport
CCB Solicitor Tim won the award for his contribution to the school's cricket. No mean cricketer (and an occasional COB) himself, Tim took a considerable hand in coaching the school 1st XI for several seasons on a voluntary basis.

1997: Andrew Jones
Probably the best COB in the world? ALGy won the 1997 award in recognition of his unmatched on the field contribution. By 1997, he had played over 30 games more than any other COB, participating in 76 of the 137 matches which had by then taken place, including 17 of the 21 Welsh Cup matches. He had scored all but 1800 runs at an average of 25, frequently captained the side, and kept wicket in half the games he had played. Usually the first name on CWK's team sheet.

1998: Peter Williams
Probably the worst COB in the world? Peter won the 1998 award for, well, being there. He had played 44 games - more than anyone else except ALGy and Malcolm Cousins - and was the second most frequent wicketkeeper. He had assisted CWK in organisation and management, umpired and scored, participated in all the French Tours, even drawing the short straw of minibus driver for the 1996 expedition. Usually the eleventh name on CWK's teamsheet. Had a hand in compiling the statistics which now appear on this website.

1999: Lynne, Sandy and James Thomas
More engines! James is a COBS regular. With his contacts with other OBs, James and his parents, Lynne and Sandy, assumed responsibility for orchestrating many of the COBS French Tours. James was responsible for cajoling and badgering reluctant participants. Lynne and Sandy organised transport, accommodation, hangover cures, (free) T-shirts and/or headgear and first aid and Sandy several times turned out on the field in case of emergency. Without the Thomas family, several of the Tours would simply not have taken place. A "Team Players" award.

2000: Colin Kleiser
The man. No other words needed.

2001: Not awarded